Food guide
Orange Roughy
Orange roughy is on the official 'choices to avoid' list for children. It sits at the top of the food chain and carries some of the highest mercury levels of any fish. Mercury builds up in the body over time and can affect the development of a child's brain and nervous system, so both UK and US guidance say to keep it away from children entirely. It is a very long-lived deep-sea fish, which is exactly why the mercury accumulates.
How to serve at this age
0-16 years: Not recommended at any age in childhood. Choose a low-mercury fish instead - salmon, sardines, trout, cod, haddock, pollock or canned light (skipjack) tuna all give your baby the same omega-3s and protein without the mercury load.
Nutrition
Orange roughy is a good source of protein and B vitamins, but every one of those nutrients is available from lower-mercury fish, so there is no nutritional reason to serve it to a child.
A note from the editors
Check the label on fish pie mixes, fish fingers and restaurant 'fish of the day' - orange roughy is occasionally used and is not always named on a menu.
Good to know
Avoid orange roughy for children. Fish is also a common allergen, so when you do introduce fish, use a low-mercury variety, offer it on its own and watch for a reaction. Aim for about two servings of low-mercury fish a week - roughly 1 oz (30 g) per serving at ages 1-3.